Mental health articles

Infant–parent interaction
Observation of the quality of the relationship with the infant is a central part of
assessing risk. The interaction reflects the parent’s current nurturing capacity
and ability to respond sensitively and appropriately to the infant’s cues, as well
as the infant’s ability to accept and respond to parental care.
The daily routines of feeding, sleeping and changing are the setting for
important social exchanges and also times of increased risk for the infant if the
caregiving system is stressed or inadequate. What parents do is more important
than what they say or think they do, and invaluable information is obtained from
observation of their interaction with their infant.
The parent’s sensitivity to the infant’s communications is central to the
development of the relationship between them and is predictive of the kind of
attachment relationship that the infant develops with each parent.
Developmentally, infants who form secure attachment relationships are at an
advantage socially and emotionally as they grow up (Thompson, 1999).
Infants in high-risk situations are more likely to develop insecure or
disorganised attachment relationships with their caregivers. There is evidence
that disorganised attachment during infancy is linked to emotional and
behavioural difficulties in childhood and adolescence. Therefore, although an
infant may not be at an immediate physical risk, an erratic, neglectful or unstable
caregiving environment is a threat to her social and emotional development and
has significant long-term implications.
In child neglect, which has profound developmental implications, abnormal
behaviour is persistent rather than an impulsive outburst that leads to abuse.
Unfortunately, many infants at risk suffer both neglect and abuse, and neglect—
particularly emotional neglect—can be difficult to detect.

Tags: infant